Machine for manufacturing linoleum-mosaic.



G. FRENKEL.`

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING LINOLEUM MOSAIC.

APPL |cATloN FILED DEC. 11. 1914.

1,1 55,7 l 8. Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

G. FRENKEL.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING LINOLEUM MOSAlC.

APPLICATION 111.120 Dec.17.1914.

1,155,718. Patented 001. 5, 1915.

` 6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.DLUMBIA PLANOaRAPH Eo..wAsH1NaTON, 11C,

G. FRENKEL.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING LINOLEUM MOSAIC.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I7. I9I4.

1,155,718. Patented 001.51915,

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IEE' Q A I BY M2 ATTORNEYS.

COLUMBIA PLANDCIRAPH C0..wAsHlNu'r0N. D.c.

G'.' FRENKEL.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING LINOLEUM MOSAIC.

APPLICATloN FILED DEc.17.1 914.

1,155,718. Patented om. 5, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ll 102 fw INVENTOR. WITNESSES.- )uu rw/fel,

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0., wAsHlNuTuN. D. c.

G. F-RENKEL.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING LINoLEuNl NosAlc.

Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5 I 6M/@1f I/OR' APPLICATION FILED DEC. 17, 1914.

WITNESSES A TTORNE YS.

CDLUMBIA PLANOURAPH C0.. WASHINGTON, u. C.

G. FRENKEL. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING I INOLEUM MOSAIC.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I7. 1914.

' Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

' 1N VENToR. WITNESSES.- /unfr 7%' @n/d BY y :OLUMBIA PLANQGRAPHCAJIBHINUTON. D. c.

STATES PATENT FFlE.

GUSTAV FRENKRL, or sAN rRANCIsco, CALIFORNIA AssIcNoR To ARMSTRONG CORKCOMPANY, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION or rNNNsYI.-v./.i'1\1..\u

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING LINLEUM-MOSAIC.

Patented ct. 5, 1915.

Originalapplicatoniled November 2, 1909,'Seria1 No. 525,913. Divided andthis application filed December 17, 1914. Serial. N. 877,814.

T0 all whom t 'may concern:

Be it known that I, GUsTAv FRRNNEL, a subject ofthe German "Emperor,residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State "ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMachines vfor Manufacturing Linoleum-Mosaic, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

rllhis invent-ion relates to a machine for manufacturing ilinoleummosaic, and the present application is divided from my patent issuedJanuary 26, 1915, for a process, No. 1,126,440, andthe invention isbased on the utilization of the elasticity of the linoleum pulp, wherebyit is rendered possible to fplace the individual pieces of linoleum atthe same tim'e'in close juxtaposition on a supporting fabric 4in such away that the hitherto customary joints which were due to the walls ofmold or 'to inexact placing are avoided. The 'figurepieces which fromthe commencementare cut or stamped somewhat larger 'than their size inthe finished design, expand in consequence of 'the elas# ticitv of thelinoleum pulp after leaving a mold in which 'they were previouslycompressed, and close together with Vlateral pressure, so that duringthe subsequent pressing Aoperations a firm and intimate connection ofthe individual pieces is obtained. Without providing the side walls 'ofthe individual figure-pieces or 'the fabric previously with an adhesivesubstance, a linoleum can, according Ato 't'he present invention, beproduced in 'the case of which the web ncomposed of 'figure-pieces doesnot break at the joints "of the figure-pieces as was the case with thelinoleum 'mosaic hitherto manufactured from individual pieces.lAccording l'to the present invention, the individual vfigure#pieces ofthe linoleum material are placed 'in boxes from which they are Apressedyby means Vof spindle or lever presses into mold movable in ahorizontal. frame, or the lgurepieces are piled up side by side in afixed mold capable of being taken to 'pieces and the mold is thenscrewed together, the figure-pieces becoming likewise easilycompressed.` The compression effects two lobjects, viz., firstly thefigure-pieces are held 'firmly in the mold by `the friction at the wallsof the latter and can be removed again only by being pressed out of thesame, and secondly, the pressing or compressing operation readilyeifects the compression of the ligure-pieces, so that after leaving themo'ld they expand again in consequence of their elasticity, and in thismanner close the fine joints due to the mold or to being unequally laid.After the mold is filled the latter is either run under a pressure-plateprovided with stamps, which pressure-plate from time to time presses a`layer of the pieces simultaneously from above on to a supporting fabricor the stamps press the ligure-pieces from below out of the mold whichin this case is fixed, whereupon the layer of figurepieces left free bythe mold is lifted 'off by suitable devices and is placed on a fabricafter the latter has been fed forward by an amount corresponding to thelinoleum maf terial which has been applied.

In the drawings Figure 1, represents in side elevation one portion of amachine for carrying out the present process. Fig. 1, is a similar viewof the other portion of the machine. Fig. 2, is aplan view of thatportion of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2a, is a similar view ofthat portion of the machine illustrated in Fig. la. Fig. 3, is across-section through the machine on 'the line A B, Fig. 2a. Figs. 4, 5,6, 7, 9, and 10, show details. Fig. 8, illustrates a cross sectionthrough a charging device on the line .li?, (Fig. 2a). Fig.`1l,represents diagrammatically the guides for the supporting fabric, whileFig. 12, is a partial view of a modied form of the machine, and is avertical section showing the device as operated by suction. Fig. 13, isa plan view of the same. Fig. 14, is a vertical sectional view ofanother modified form, showing the use of pins. Figs. 15,` 16, `.and 17,illustrate the three steps of the opera-tion of the machine.

`When using a horizontally movable mold from which the ligure-pieces areforced out from above downwardtoa fabric, the mold 1, resting on therollers 5," is first brought above the table plate 6, and the latter israised up to the 4mold by the lever-mecha` nism 7, 8, 9, 10, (Fig. la),with the aid of th'e screwed spindles 12 (Figs. 1a and 2a),

:prvided with the hand-wheels l1, so that the mold 4rests perfectly onthe table plate:

iso

Then a charging box 2, of which several may be present, is brought on tothe mold 1, with the figure-pieces 13 (Fig. 8) situated therein., Thebox keeps its exact position with regard to the mold by means of thepieces 14 (Fig. 9) on said box. The figure-pieces 13, are forced intothis box 2, either directly by means of a stamp or the box is charged byhand, in such a way that the figure-pieces are piled, one above anotherto the requisite number and the box is then reversed and forced over thesame. The upper edges of the box are splayed outward slightly whichprevents the figure-pieces from becoming in jured. A press, in thedrawing a screw press, 13, (Figs. 1, 2, and 8) which is displaceablyarranged on a traveling crossbeam 16, forces the figure-pieces 13, outof the box 2, into the mold 1. Fig. 8, illustrates this operation. Thetraveling cross-beam enables each point of the mold to be reached.MoreoverI the plate 17, of the stamp 17, is exchangeable so that it maycorrespond with the figure-pieces being applied at the time. Tfihentheoperation of charging the mold 1, is ended the latter passes under apressureplate 3, provided with exchangeable stamps 18 (Figs. 1, and 3).

The pressing of the figure-pieces 13, out of the mold 1, on to asupporting fabric is effected in the following manner By turning thescrew-spindles 2O (Figs. la, and 3) which engage with their upper threadportions in the pressure-plate 3, and at the same time servo assupporting columns for this plate, the spindles 18, are first of alllowered until they touch the figure-pieces 13, situated in the mold. Across-beam 19 (Figs. 12 and 3) which is movable in a vertical directionand on which the mold 1 rests, and which supports at each side aI roller21, is reciprocated up and down by means of two camdisks 22, whichengage with the rollers 21, and which are fixed on the shaft 23. Thescrew-spindles 20, are so connected with the cross-beam 19, that theyturn in the crossbeam, but cannot be shifted. The screw` spindles 20,are driven by worin-gears, the worm-wheels 24 (Figs. 1, and 2) of whichare so supported that the screw-spindles 20, on the cross-beam 19, beingraised and lowered can shift in the same, the rotation being transmittedby inserted keys. The worms 25, which engage in the worm-wheels 24 arerigidly connected with a hollow shaft 27 (Fig. 3). This hollow shaft ispushed loosely over the shaft 23. The shaft 28, (Fig. 2) is connectedwith the shaft 23, the rotation of which shaft 28, is transmitted by thetoothed wheels 29, and 30, to the shaft 23. On one end of the shaft 28,a crank disk 31, (Figs. 1a and 2a) is arranged, which is connected bymeans of a rod 32, with a pawl and ratchet mechanism fixed on the hollowshaft 27 Figs. 4, and 5, show this device on an enlarged scale. 33 is adouble ratchet Vwheel provided with teeth facing opposite directions onthe nave of which wheel the levers 34, are revolubly arranged. On thefreeends of these levers, the rod 32 is pivoted. 34, is mounted a doublepawl 35, the operative portions of which work in different planes, andwhich supports a weight 36, on its extended axle. In order to .be ablesuitably to set the pawl and ratchet mechanism the crank disk 31, isprovided with a screwspindle 37, by the rotation of which the crank-pin38, carrying the rod 32, can be displaced. A scale on the crank-diskshows exactly the magnitude of the stroke, and the crank-disk 31,loosely mounted on the shaft 28, can be coupled with this ,shaft bymeans of a coupling 39, which can be uncoupled. The crank-shaft 3,1, isprovided behind with a toothed flange 40, with which a toothed wheel 42,mounted on the shaft 41, engages. The shaft 28, is driven by means ofthe pair of wheels 43, and 44, from the driving shaft 45. After, by therotation of the shaft 41, the coupling 39 (Fig. 5) having beenuncoupled, the stamps 18, (Figs. 1 and 3) have been lowered to such anextent by means of the above described pawl and ratchet mechanism thatthey put the figure-pieces 13, in the mold-1, the coupling 39, is againcoupled up and the pawl 35, is changed over by turning over the weight36. The shafts 28, 23, (Figs. 1a, and 2a) which rotate at the same speedarel now set in motion by the driving shaft 45, Vso that the cam-diskBetween the levers 22, on the shaft 23, first ofall lowers the mold 1,until its distance from the supporting fabric 4, corresponds to thethickness of one layer of linoleum material. On further rotationoccurring, during which the camdisks hold the mold in its position, thehollow shaft 27, with the worms 25, is set in rotation by the crank-disk31, and the pawl and ratchet-mechanism in consequence of which thescrew-spindles 20, force the stamps 18, to such a distance into the mold1, that the lowermost layer of the figure-pieces 13, is free of the moldand passes on to the supporting fabric. On the rotation continuing thecam-disks 22, engage the rollers 21 (Figs. 1a and 3), and raise againthe mold, together with the stamps which retain their positionrelatively to the mold. After the supporting fabric 4, has been fedforward again the mold 1, sinks again with the stamps which also stillretain their position relatively to the mold. The stamps are then forcedfarther into the mold and the next layer of figure-pieces passes on tothe fabric. This mode of operation is, however, applicable only when itis a matter of dealing with fairly small gure-pieces of ordinary size.If the figure-pieces on the contrary are of extraordinary size the)7 canbe simply pressed from above downward out of the mold on to the fabric.Such figure-pieces would sag on account of their stability being nolonger sufficient and this would result in their easily falling out ofthe mold. In this case the figure-pieces instead of being pressed fromabove downward on to a fabric, must be pressed from below upward out ofthe mold, the mold can be removed by suitable devices and be brought onto a fabric. In this case consequently the stamps 18, would not belowered from above downward into the mold 1, but they would penetratefrom below into the mold 1, and they would push a layer of figure-piecesupward out of the4 mold. The removal of this layer can be effected.either by spikes or the like, or by means of suction. Then the removalis effected by Vmeans of spikes or the like, a plate (Fig.

141) is situated over the mold 1, which plate throughout its entirelength and breadth is fitted on the surface turned toward the mold 1,with needles 66, which pass through a vsecond plate 67 havingcorresponding holes 68. VThese two plates are arranged both verticallyand horizontally rotatable. After the uppermost layer of ligure-pieces69 has been pressed by the stamps 18, out of the mold, the two plates,65 and 67, sink simultaneously on to the figure-pieces (Fig. 14) so thatthe needles 66, penetrate into said pieces. When the plates aresubsequently raised, the figure-pieces remain suspended on the needles(Fig.V 15) and are pushed together with the plates in a horizontaldirection over the fabric 11 (Fig. 16) and then deposited. During' thisoperation the two plates first sink until the figure-pieces 69, adheringto the needles touch the fabric (Fig. 17), the lower plate 67, providedwith an elastic layer 70 (cork, rubber or the like) resting on thefigure-pieces. The elastic layer pre vents on the one hand thesuperimposed figure-pieces from being too severely pressed while beingremoved, and on the other hand the elastic layer cleans the needles fromany particles of material" possibly adhering to them, which is a matterof great importance. The upper plate 65, is, now raised until theneedles are out of the figure-pieces, while the lower plate 67, remainsresting on the gure-pieces. Then the two plates are raised together, thefigure-pieces remain lying on the fabric, and are brought back in ahorizontal direction over the mold 1, and are lowered on to the secondlayer of figurepieces, which has been meanwhile forced out of the moldand so on.

The removal of the figurepieces by means of suction is effected in thefollowing` manner zAbove the perforated plate 67, an air-tight space 71,(Fig. 12) is so arranged that it incloses the plate, 67, throughout itsentire length and breadth. Into this space so that the layer passing outofrupted after the open branch pipes 73, connected with a main 72, whichare soarranged that they are uniformly distributed over the plate 67(Fig. 3). Vith a union 74, on the main 72, a flexible metallic hose 75,is connected which is connected with a suction apparatus. The flexiblemetallic hose permits the plate 67, with the suction pipes to moveupward and downward, and also a movement in a horizontal direction.Before the plate 67, is set down on the igurepieces the suction actionat this plate is done away with by opening the main 72, or in anysuitable manner. The plate 67, now descends on to the figurepieces, andthe suction action is produced, whereupon the plate rises with the upperlayer of ligure-pieces. The suction-holes 68, are uniformly distributedclose together over the whole plate 67, as shown in Fig. 13. Thisarrangement makes it possible to raise by means of one and the saineplate, each layer of figures without regard to composition and design.After raising the plate 67 the further operation is the same as thatrepresented in Figs. 15, 16, and 17. Whether the figure-pieces areremoved from the compartments of the mold 1, by the plungers, or bysuction, or by the spikes or pins, the eX- pansive action of thepreviously compressed linoleum is the same, and this expansion preventsany spaces or openings at the edges of the figure-pieces, which expandand contract with one another as soon as they leave thecOmpartments ofthe mold 1. The figure-pieces lie close together on the surface of thesupporting or following layer, and after they have been conveyed to andaplaced on the fabric by either the spikes or pins, they will remain intheir relative positions owing to the rough which consists of jute orother suitable material. If the pieces are placed on the fabric bysuction, the process is the same as with the needles, the suction beinginterfigure-pieces have been deposited on the fabric.

When the process is applied in the manner indicated in Figs. 12, to 17,the mold 1, can be so supported that the thin intermediate walls can bedispensed with. In that case the figure-pieces do not require to befirstpressed into the boxes 2, but they may be placed in layers in thestamp-plates and be immediately pushed from below into the mold situatedabove, or the over the same. The mold may also be opened by removing oneor several walls, and the figure-pieces piled on one another beinsertsurface of the fabric,

mold be pressed ed, the stamp-plates forming the bottom of the mold andthe figure-pieces being readily from `below upward out. of the mold.

Theforward Amotion Aof the supporting i3@ fabric is effected by a secondcrank-disk 46, which in construction corresponds with the crank-disk 31,and is mounted firmly on the same shaft 2S. The rod 47, (Figs. l, and1a, and Figs. 2 and 2a), which on the one hand engages with thecrank-pin 48, and on the other hand is revolubly fastened to a slideshoe49, gives to the latter the reciprocating movements. A steel band 50,likewise engaging with the slide-shoe 49, transmits this motion to thecasing 51, of a friction coupling which is arranged on the axle of aneedle roller 52, serving to draw forward the supporting fabric 4. Asecond steel band 53, carries at its free end a plate 54, which serveson the one hand to, move back the casing 51, and on the other hand torender non-injurious the slight shocks which occur. In Figs. 6, and 7,the friction coupling is represented to an enlarged scale. The casing51, loosely mounted on the axle carries on its nave two flanges 57,provided with slots 56, (Fig. 6). The rim of'this case is adapted toreceive on its outer surface the steel bands 50, On each side of thecase 51, a driving disk 5S, is firmly connected with the axle andprojects at its circumference into the case. The cheeks 59, fit thecircumference of the driving disks 5S, and are provided on theirfriction surface with a leather facing 60. At their ends facing the axlethe cheeks are provided'with rollers 61, which engage in the slots 56,of the flanges 57. The cheeks 59, are guided by means of caseprojections 62, which engage in slots 63, in the disk 64. These disksare loose on the nave of the case. Then the case 51, rotates in thedirection of the arrow (Fig. 6), the cheeks 59, are drawn together bymeans of theV slots 56, and are applied firmly against the driving disk5S. Then rotating in the'opposite direction the cheeks move apart,theirmovements being limited by the internal surface of the rim of thecasing. This arrangement'enables any desired magnitude of feed movementto be obtained, so that designs can be carried out with repetition atany desired intervals.

The supporting fabric 4is guided and stretched by means of a weightedroller (Figs'l, and 2), and a needle roller 66, which is provided with4a brake '67. The supporting Vfabric 4, is guided from'the roll 68, overthe guide rollers 69, 70, and the needle roller 66, under the mold 1,and a fiat hydraulic press 71, and over the needle roller 52, afterwhich it loops around the weight- "roller 65, and passes over the guideroller 72, to a winding-up device which, however, is not intended to bethe subject matter of the present invention. The thorough union of thefigure-pieces with each other and with the fabric takes place under theheated presses in the well known manner. The weight-roller 65, theWeight of which is equal to double the tension of the supporting fabric4, is suspended freely in this fab ric and is guided in slots 73, at itstwo ends in order that it may not oscillate. This arrangement insuresthe supporting fabric having always a constant tension as the nee dlesof the feed-roller 52 (Fig. 11), are so set, that they cannot take upthe pull exerted by the weight-roller 65, on the fabric, whereas theneedles of the roller 66, grasp the fab* ric. The brake 67, (Figs. 1a,2a, and 11) however, prevents the needleeroller 66, from rotating merelyunder the tension due to the weight-roller 65, because said brakebalances the tension due to the weight of the roller 65. The forwardmotion of the supporting fabric 4, in the direction of the arrow (Figs.1 and 11) is consequently possible only by turning the feedingneedle-roller 52 (Figs. 2, and l1).

In practice it is recommended to use two molds 1, instead of one, sothat the' second mold can be charged by the workmen while the machine isemptying the first mold.

Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Y 1. Amachine for making linoleum m0- saic, including a mold or receptacleprovided with figu1e-piece-receiving compartments of the design to beproduced, means for supporting a fabric in position for receiving thefigure-pieces, and mechanism for removing the figure-pieces from themold or receptacle in layers and for depositing the layers successivelyupon thesaid fabric.

2. A machine for making llinoleum mosaic, including a mold or receptaclehaving thin walls forming .figure-piece-receiving compartments of thedesign to be produced, means 'for supporting a fabric in position toreceive the figure-pieces, mechanism for sin'iultaneously removing thefigure-pieces in layers from the compartments of the mold or receptacle,and for depositing the 'layers successively vupon the supporting fabric,said mold or receptacle and supporting fabric having relative movement.

8. A machine for making linoleumV mosaic, including a mold or receptacleprovided with separate figure-piece-receiving compartments arranged inthe form of the design to be produced, means for supporting the fabricin position to receive the figure-pieces, and plungers arranged tooperate in the compartments of the mold or rel ceptacle for expellingthe figure-pieces simultaneously in layers.

4. A machine for making linoleum mo saic, including a mold or receptaclehaving separatev figure piece receiving compartments arranged in theform of the design to be produced, means for supporting a fabric inposition to receive the iigure-pieces, mechanism for moving the mold orreceptacle to and from the fabric, plungers for expelling comprising thefigure-pieces simultaneously from the compartments to form layers, andmeans for advancing the supporting fabric.

5. A machine for making linoleum mosaic, including a mold or receptaclehaving separate figure piece receiving compartments, means forsupporting a fabric in position to receive the figure-pieces, plunger-sfor expelling the ligure-pieces from the said compartments, means formoving the mold toward and from the fabric, means for actuating theplungers when the mold is in position for depositing the figureepieceson the supporting fabric and means for advancing the supporting fa ric.V

6. A machine for making linoleum mosaic, including a mold, a plateprovided with stamps or plungers, a support, mechanism spaced cams forraising and lowering the support, rotary screw-spindles mounted on thesupport and connected with the plate for sinking the stamps or plungersinto the mold, and gearing for rotating the screw-spindles.

7. A machine for making linoleum mosaic, including a mold, a plateprovided with stamps or plungers, a support, mechanism for raising andlowering the support, a shaft, cams mounted on the shaft for raising andlowering the support, screw-spindles mounted on the support andconnected with the plate and forming supporting columns for the latter,a hollow shaft mounted on the said shaft, andworm gearing connecting thehollow shaft with the screw-spindles.

8. A machine for making linoleuin mosaic, including means for supportinga fabric, ratchet mechanism for feeding the fabric forward, a weightedtension roller carried by the fabric, and a weighted friction device forcontrolling the feed of the fabric.

9. A machine for making linoleum mosaic, including a needle roller foractuating a supporting fabric,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe a weighted tension` roller suspended in the fabric, guiding meansfor the tension roller, and a brake connected with the needle roller andprovided with a weight.

l0. In an apparatus for making inlaid linoleum, a vertically movableassembling platen, a pressing platen arranged laterally thereto, andover which the backing fabric is fed, and a lifting member capable ofvertical and horizontal displacement relative to said assembling platenand said pressing platen, and adapted to lift the assembled layers orsections and transport the same onto the backing fabric over thepressing platen.

l1. In an apparatus for making inlaid linoleum, a vertically movableassembling platen, a pressing platen over which the backing fabric isfed, anda lifting member comprising a studded plate and a' perforatedplate, both said plates being capable of moving together vertically andhorizontally relative to the assembling platen and said pressing platenand vertically relative to one another.

l2. In an apparatus for making inlaid linoleum, a vertically movableassembling platen, a pressing platen, over which the backing fabric isfed, and a lifting member comprising a studded plate and a perforatedplate through which the studs project and which is formed with anelastic layer, said two plates being capable of moving vertically andhorizontally relative to said assembling platen and said .pressingplaten and independently in vertical direction relative to one another.

In testimony whereof, I afiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAV FRENKEL.

Witnesses L. I-I. ANDERSON, WILLIAM KLEIN.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

